Budget deal comes with bizarre tax

Thursday

As taxpaying constituents in this kingdom of Pennsylvania, we need to be watching the state budget deal very closely and asking for details about what is on the table.

We need to look at the entire picture and not just what services are being cut or whoís running out of money now.

Iíve not seen much detail, but the proposed tax levy on nonprofit groups is really astounding, as is the increase on cigarettes. They have a deal on a 20 percent tax on small games of chance run by churches, fire companies, sportsmanís clubs, veteransí organizations and more.

The trade off is increased prize limits, which is illogical as the pool of money available for people to put into the games is only so big. Larger prizes often mean more work, more selling and more people needed to help. Not to mention this will create a record keeping nightmare.

Only in Pennsylvania would we offer tax incentives to become a firefighter one year, then dream up a way to tax their good works the next.

Kelly Newman

Chippewa Township

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